Porsche Boxster facelift spied for the first time

The first shots have emerged of what could be a four-cylinder Porsche Boxster.

The German brand has been busy plugging away on updates to its popular convertible, and while it appears there are not a lot of changes to take in cosmetically, the facelifted model could bring big updates in the engine bay.

Porsche has previously said that its next-generation Boxster would feature a lower cylinder count, however the timing of these shots mean there’s a possibility we’ll see it sooner than originally planned.

Earlier this year, Porsche chief Matthias Muller said the 2016 Boxster and Cayman sports cars would get a new four-cylinder engine that uses less fuel than the six-cylinders that have defined the nameplates.

Speaking at the 2014 Detroit motor show, the president and CEO of Porsche told Drive a four-cylinder engine was being developed, as has been reported for imminent use in the Macan compact SUV.

“As far as I know we should have a new Boxster and Cayman in 2016 and we will see what that car will offer,” hinted Muller when asked when the entry level Porsche sports cars would get that new four-cylinder engine.

He also confirmed such an engine would be a horizontally-opposed unit unique to Porsche, rather than a more traditional inline engine shared with other models in the Volkswagen Group.

“We are a boxer company,” he said.

Other than a possible engine switch, the prototype photographed here appears to show modest styling updates to the front bumper and headlights.